Storytime! Opening Reception at Cartoon Art Museum August 24

The Cartoon Art Museum will host a reception for its latest exhibition, Storytime! Graphic Novels for Kids of All Ages, on Tuesday, August 24, 2010, from 7:00-9:00pm. Special guests include Lark Pien, creator of Long Tail Kitty and Mr. Elephanter, Larry Marder, creator of Beanworld and co-curator of the Storytime! exhibition, and Marder’s co-curator, Andrew Farago. This reception is free and open to the public.

Storytime! features the work of ten influential cartoonists whose work broke new ground in bookstores and libraries. Their graphic novels are promoted as product for the children and young adult marketplace but these innovative graphic novels are captivating to readers of all ages. Co-curators Andrew Farago and Larry Marder have placed a special emphasis on the creative processes used by the individual artists. Visitors are invited to peek over the shoulders of the creators and follow along from the first sketchbook doodles all the way to the printed page.

Highlights of Storytime! include:

*A behind-the-scenes look at the creative process of acclaimed children’s book creator Mo Willems as he shares production art from his book Elephants Cannot Dance!

*Classic tales from Little Lulu, drawn by Irving Tripp and written by Virginia Hubbell, including never-before-seen thumbnail sketches and typewritten scripts.

*Larry Marder's Beanworld, a compelling fantasy with profound insights into themes of ecology, culture, and art; a most peculiar comic book experience.

*Stan Sakai's Eisner-winning samurai epic Usagi Yojimbo.

*Smile (A Dental Drama), the new autobiographical graphic novel set in San Francisco, by Raina Telgemeier, artist of the Baby-sitters Club graphic novels.